Comparison of damage modes of Matched Pairs of Total Knee Replacements: A Retrieval Analysis

Mentor

Douglas E. Padgett, MD

Scope

Over the past two decades, there have been significant changes in the designs of total knee replacements. Design changes have been made in order to address the functional demands of patients including increasing range of motion. Unfortunately, some of these design changes have come at the expense of increasing contact stresses to the bearing surface and have been associated with premature damage.

The implant retrieval archive at Hospital for Special Surgery is the oldest and largest of its kind with over 30 years of retrieval experience. Retrieval analysis gives us the unique opportunity to learn about the performance of human joint replacements. The purpose of this study will be to match sets of retrieved implants by age, sex, length of implantation, and reason for revision to determine if the changes in design are accompanied by similar or unique damage patterns.

The student would become an active member of the retrieval team and learn the techniques of damage mapping and scoring using light microscopy techniques. In addition, the student will gather clinical data as well as radiographic information in order to determine these effects upon damage scoring. A hypothesis derived research proposal will be established during the first two weeks followed by performance of the research. In addition to the laboratory experience, the student will be given the opportunity to observe joint replacement surgery and attend the joint replacement clinic during the eight week summer program.

Contact

Douglas E. Padgett, MD
email: padgettd@hss.edu